Structure & divisions
The FVB is one of 19 committees within the VDMA research network. As part of the parent association, the Forschungskuratorium Maschinenbau e.V. (FKM) unites and coordinates pre-competitive research for the machinery and plant engineering sector. Being an umbrella organization, the FKM represents the interests of mechanical engineering in the Industrial Collective Research (German: Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung, short: IGF) and, in particular, supervises cross-sector projects and entry-level projects. The FVB was founded in 1972 as a research body for construction machinery and building material plants. Since then, it has overseen numerous projects of its members and led them to success. Four official bodies, the Executive Board, the Advisory Board, the General Assembly, and the Management, support the association in its work.
Executive Board
The Executive Board guides the FVB. It decides on research projects, represents the FVB externally, and makes financial decisions. At the FVB General Assembly in October 2023, the members elected the following company representatives to the Executive Board:
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Bauer
Jörg Hermanns
Werner Seifried
Dr. Ing. Ulrich Faß
Dipl.-Ing. Marcus Fink
Franz Josef Paus
Joachim Schmid
Dr. Andreas Ziegler
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board evaluates, coordinates, and monitors ongoing research projects and proposes new ones. It provides information on research and teaching programmes. Each member company can delegate a representative to the advisory board.
General Assembly
All members of the FVB meet once a year for the General Assembly. Among other things, they approve the annual report and cash report and discharge the Executive Board and the Managing Director. The General Assembly admits new members and can amend the association's constitution or dissolve the association.
Management
The Management takes care of day-to-day business, appoints the General Assembly and the Advisory Board meeting, is accountable to the tax authority and can make financial decisions. The managing director is Dr. Darius Soßdorf. The FVB is affiliated to VDMA Construction Equipment and Plant Engineering.